Voith intends to make a big share in China's high-end truck hydraulic retarder market

People who have contacted Voith Retarders should have heard of this story: In the mountainous country of Mexico. One day, a traffic policeman drove down a Manmoeros long-distance company truck and went down to the foot of the mountain. The traffic police stopped the car and punished the driver. The police said that on the downslope of tens of kilometers, your brake lights were never on. The brake lights are broken, so you have to be fined. The driver said that my brake lights were good. When I was downhill, I hadn't stepped on the brakes, so it wouldn't shine. What do you brake? The policeman asked. Retarder, the driver answered. After repeated explanations, the driver finally let the traffic police know that the retarder installed on the truck is a more advanced component than the brake system. The retarder mentioned here is Voith Hydraulic Retarder.

The story always belongs to the story. In May 2008, Voith chose the ramp between the daunting "Valley of Death", which is a 6% steep slope and a 9-kilometer length between Badaling Gate and Juyongguan. Experience the experience of Voith Retarder. Even though it was more than a year later, I still remembered that a Futianou V passenger car, during the entire downhill process, did not have the feeling of sudden body leaning forward when braking, but was very comfortable and natural. During this period, the driver activated the constant ramp function of Voith Retarder's unique ramp, and the vehicle continued downhill at the driver's set speed. The driver looked relaxed and without any worries. When it reached the bottom of the hill, the author got off and touched the brake drum with his hand, cold. As a professional media for trucks, it is not only lamented that if this technology is applied to passenger cars and is widely used on trucks, then Chinese truck drivers will be “happy,” so why would they use the “cooling brake drums next door?” "Waterway".

"In Germany in 2008, 100% (approx. 3,000) of passenger cars with more than 8 tons applied hydraulic retarder auxiliary braking system; about 55,000 trucks with more than 16T, 58% applied hydraulic retarder assisted braking System, but in China, these two ratios are 80% and 0%, respectively." On the afternoon of November 14, 2009, Mr. HASELOFF, project manager of the road product field from Voith Turbo Technology Systems (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., expressed to reporters in Beijing. In stark contrast to this, in 2008 China's truck market exceeded 480,000 in sales of heavy trucks exceeding 16T.

Vogel Turbo Technology Systems (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. HASELOFF Project Manager

The reporter also noticed a timetable that the utilization rate of hydraulic retarders for trucks over 16T in Western Europe was only 3% in 1985. By 2005, the installation rate had reached 50%. The speed of development is also validating the potential of hydraulic retarders in truck applications. In the 90s of the last century, Voith Hydraulic Retarder entered China. So far in the field of passenger cars, there is no need to lobby for the benefits of hydraulic retarders. The advantages of the products have enabled Voith to occupy a certain share of the Chinese market. Now can take time to focus on China's big truck market. In the morning of the meeting with reporters, Mr. Haseloff had just returned from the liberation company. According to him, Voith's hydraulic retarder VR133-2 had already been assembled on the liberation CA4180P66, and winter and summer road tests were all completed. Get a very good result.

Voith Hydraulic Retarder VR133-2

Mr. HASELOFF further analyzed that although China's truck market has a large capacity, it is not entirely suitable for the assembly of Voith Turbo retarders. Only heavy trucks with a market selling price of more than 300,000 can "take over" from Voith. Speeder. In China, trucks with a price of 300,000 to 400,000 account for only 14% of the total, while trucks with more than 400,000 yuan account for only 3%. According to the statistics of 480,000 vehicles in 2008, this means that 17% (about 80,000 units) of the heavy truck market is the territory of Voith's offense. However, Mr. HASELOFF also stated that Voith has reliable quality and strong reputation and will strive to make a large share in this small market.

Mr. HASELOFF listed the advantages of Voith's hydraulic retarder in a practical case. He said that from Italy to Germany, the distance is 3164KM. During and after the entire journey, truck drivers with and without hydraulic retarders are installed. The number of brakes has been reduced from 1839 to 627, a decrease of 70%; and the change in gear has been reduced from 1890 to 1196, a decrease of 36%; but the average speed has increased from 70.4 to 74.5, an increase of 5.9%. . It can be seen that the retarder reduces the loss of the brake pads during long-distance transportation, reduces the number of shifts, and effectively achieves the effect of fuel economy.

However, there is no localization of the Voith hydrodynamic retarder currently used in trucks, and the high cost of purchase will hinder Voith's entry into China. In this regard, Mr. HASELOFF calculated an account for the reporter, using Voith hydraulic retarder, can effectively protect the service brake, brake shoe life can be extended by more than 8 times. Effective use of a retarder saves fuel. And it can increase the average speed, save transportation time, and reduce operating costs. If the source of supply is stable, the cost recovery of the retarder will generally not exceed 2 years. For fleet management, the safety of the vehicle and the life safety of the driver will be effectively guaranteed. This will be an intangible asset.

China's market has never lost its competitors. For Voith's hydraulic retarders, apart from itself, the biggest opponent is the eddy current retarder. For this, Mr. HASELOFF said that the two products have different working principles and the braking process is different. Hydraulic retarders achieve vehicle retardation through the interaction of oil between the rotor and the stator. Rapidly and effectively dissipating the heat generated in the retarding process through the automotive water-cooling system has no negative influence on the surrounding components. In the braking process, braking torques up to 4000Nm will also show advantages in the application of the truck market. In addition, the maximum working temperature of the hydraulic retarder is less than 150 degrees, and there is no thermal decay for continuous braking, which fully guarantees safe driving. In China's truck transport market where weight and weight are charged, lighter weight means more cargo, compared to 175kg-450kg of eddy current retarder, the hydraulic retarder is only 60-85kg in weight. It seems that A "congenital deficiency" may affect the promotion of eddy current retarder in the truck field.

The reporter also learned that in Europe, in addition to the hydraulic retarder, the engine brake system is also widely used. In this regard, Mr. HASELOFF explained that there is a domestic misunderstanding that there is a competitive technology between the engine brake and the hydraulic retarder. It is not true that the hydraulic retarder achieves high-torque braking at high vehicle speeds. Make up for the lack of engine braking. The hydraulic retarder and engine brake complement each other and complement each other, allowing the braking torque to be superimposed and acting within a wider range of vehicle speeds. This will be more beneficial to the application of the truck market.

For the application products of Voith Turbo Retarder in the Chinese truck market, Mr. HASELOFF told the author that he will first introduce the VR133-2 retarder that has been applied in the international market. He stressed that two years ago, Voith had adapted the product with Shaanxi Auto and exported it to the South African market. It is the VR133-2 retarder that is assembled. Mr. HASELOFF also pointed out that Voith also has a parallel type hydraulic retarder, which occupies less space and lighter weight. However, it needs to cooperate with gearbox manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers to develop products with improved adaptability. For the promotion of the Chinese market, the series installation method that directly connects with the transmission is relatively flexible and easy to implement. In the first stage of marketing, it is a very feasible solution. Mr. HASELOFF also said that in addition to cooperating with the OEM factory, we can also install the vehicle's hydraulic retarder. "I think this will be the next major step for Voith's promotion of hydraulic retarders for trucks in China." Mr. HASELOFF finally stressed to reporters.